Resource Conservation. (n.d.). New York, N.Y.: Films Media Group.

This video touches base on a few of the many ways we can conserve water and energy in our

homes. The professor in this lecture video explains to us how there are many different products

on the market to have a greener home. It is important to install water conserving fixtures (toilets,

faucets, shower heads, washers, etc.). For example, low flush toilets. Older models of toilets used

3.5-8 gpf (gallons per flush), whereas there are toilets available to us that use only 1.6 gpf of

water. Another example of available products are bathroom faucets and kitchen faucets. Through

a kitchen faucets, there is pressure running though that faucet to put out 2.0 gpm (gallons per

minute) and a bathroom faucet, while it does put out less gpm, they are still producing 1.5 gpm,

which is unnecessary. It is recommended that people look into EnergyStar products that will aid

in water conservation. He also explains how foreign countries such as Japan and China will take

over our plumbing industry someday, because plumbing companies, such as Toto, are creating

much more advanced plumbing products that are more green and conservative, i.e. waterless

urinals. While it would be good to install these types of products in your homes/buildings, just

making a habit of the more simple ways, like turning the water off while you brush your teeth or

not flushing the toilet more than once, will make a huge difference in water

conservation/consumption and even save you money. There are also many opportunities to use

the water nature freely offers us. Collecting rainwater and storing it for later use will save you

money and conserve water. In many instances, irrigation systems that water plants use

distilled/purified water, when there's really no reason for it.

There are also many ways to conserve energy using plants! If you pay attention to the layout of

buildings/homes, you can easily determine different ways to regulate things like temperature.

While heating and air is nice, planting trees can also regulate temperatures. Planting a tree in

front of a window to shade it at certain points during the day will have a dramatic effect on the

temperature in the building as a whole, allowing you to put the thermostat at more reasonable

temperatures. Plants can also be planted to keep heat in in the colder seasons too. Plants can also

prevent erosion, filter and retain rain water and minimizing the use of fertilizers and pesticides.

While those are all helpful on their own, they will also help protect the quality of our air and

water.

Climate Change and Energy Supply and Use. (2014) (pp. 1–72). Washington, DC: Island

Press/Center for Resource Economics. https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-553-3

This chapter (ch. 3) of Climate Change Implications For US Energy Supply And Use covers

energy use based on heating and cooling. This chapter goes into depth about how different region

and areas use heating and cooling, the effects of the climate, and longitude and latitude. It

touches base on how recent studies are showing that different levels of energy used for heating

and cooling are different in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings vary. While

buildings and local areas vary, the level of energy uses for heating and air conditioning are

different all across the country and the effects of climate change all together have an impact. It

explains how the balance of energy used for heating and cooling is spread across the country

based on seasonal temperatures and climate. For example, extremely southern states like Texas
or Arizona may show to be using higher energy levels to power air conditioning in the summer

than say Connecticut or Maine.It includes information about agriculture as well pertaining to

irrigation systems. Chapter 3 explains that it is likely that climate-change related decreases in

energy used directly in processes like residential, commercial, and industrial water heating, along

with an increase in energy used for residential and commercial refrigeration and industrial

process cooling (i.e. thermal power plants or steel mills). Even though there are no new studies

documenting exactly how detrimental these potential changes are, there is still an ongoing

investigation on this topic going on in the U.S.

United States : Energy Sector Alert Series: Climate Change Disclosures in 2016. (n.d.). MENA

Report. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1771534654/

In 2016, this journal article was written to discuss former climate change warnings and what the

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) did in response. As pointed out in the article, there

was a guidance released in February of 2010. The SEC's impact pertaining to quantity and

quality of environmental disclosures was generally seen as fairly limited. Ceres, a non-profit

organization that supports the corporate climate-change-related disclosures, drew attention to an

interesting observation. During the years of 2010 to 2011, the Securities and Exchange

Commission issued a total of 49 comment letters on the topic of climate change. However,

throughout the next two years (2012 to 2013), the Securities and Exchange Commission had only

issued three comment letters. These letters were issued to express and identify concerns related

to climate change disclosures. Why only three? In February of 2016, notes had been released
from a conversation with Securities and Exchange Commission that say that the agency hadn't

really had any plans to establish whether any additional actions pertaining to disclosure of

climate-related risks would be necessary.

Domestic water conservation technologies. (2002). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Energy,

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

This book goes a little more into depth about the environmental benefits of water and energy

conservation, but also the economic benefits of the conservation of these resources on more of a

Federal level. It explains how we save energy through saving water. The more water we use, the

more energy we use to heat, transport, and treat our water. A study indicated that the government

was using 50% of its water in hospitals, housing, and office buildings. After a Federal

Technology Alert was put into place, the government looked into domestic technologies to save

more water. Federal facilities installed things like faucet aerators, low-flow or sensored faucets,

low-flow shower heads, low-flush and composting toilets, and low-flush or waterless urinals.

Some facilities are reluctant to purchase and install these products because they believe

performance will not be good, but these technologies are designed to save water and energy

without reducing performance. While these products are efficient in saving water, they also save

money as well. A study in 1997 showed that the Federal Government was using about 300-400

million gallons of water EACH DAY. Cost per 1000 gallons is about $2.08, so they were

spending about $229-$250 million per year. Military facilities pay about $1.29 per 1000 gallons

and other nonmilitary facilities pay an average of $3.82 per 1000 gallons. After the study was
complete, the Federal Energy Management Program informed the government that they can save

about 40% of the water they currently use by installing more water efficient fixtures in housing,

hospitals, and office buildings. Many state, local, and federal government facilities have decided

to have these conservation technologies installed, and while installation may be expensive,

facilities saved more money annually than they spent on the installation itself. While this

technology would be an advantage environmentally and economically have been laid out for us

in this source, there are still barriers and stipulations pertaining to the use of these products.

Some do not get adequate information on the technology, some costs are currently low enough,

some lack knowledge on the topic, some facilities lack funding for the installation, and there may

be a few misconceptions regarding the use and benefits these products can bring. In conclusion,

these water/energy saving technologies can be beneficial for any facilities all over the world and

should consistently be considered when installing new models, building new building, etc.

Lee, M., & Tansel, B. (n.d.). Water conservation quantities vs customer opinion and satisfaction

with water efficient appliances in Miami, Florida. ​Journal of Environmental Management,​ ​128.​

Retrieved from ​http://search.proquest.com/docview/1431103147/

The Federal Energy Management Program and the U.S. EPA identified water efficiency

management practices for indoor water usage through toilets, show heads, faucets, and washers.

Over the duration of 2006 to 2007, a study was conducted in Miami-Dade County of Florida.

Participants were chosen by their income levels. Low income seniors and any other low income

residents in the area, that were living in houses built for single families before 1996, were asked
to be participants in this study. The participants homes were retrofitted, free of charge, with the

proper equipment need to partake in the study. Products included: high efficiency toilets, high

efficiency shower heads, and faucet aerators. Homes were allowed up to two toilets, two shower

heads, 2 bathroom faucet aerators, and one kitchen aerator. Toilets (1.28 gallons per flush) were

expected to save households about 34.7 gallons per day, shower heads (1.5 gallons were

expected to save 28.0, and aerators 9.3. The purpose of this study was meant to review data and

results to assess the water conservation quantities and associated effects (i.e. satisfaction level

and change of water use habits) of the participants in the High Efficiency Fixture Retrofit

Program. When the study was complete a phone survey was distributed to the customers.

Questions included

1.Water-using-related socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., address, gender, number of

occupants in household, education levels of occupants, verification of the number and type of

water use efficiency fixtures still in place at the residence);

2.Customer satisfaction (i.e., ease of application process, scheduling of appointment, installation

process, and use of product);

3.Effects of the project (i.e., change of water use habits, monetary savings on water bill,

recommendations to others on water saving devices, and, interest in trying new water saving

devices); and

4.Awareness of the program (i.e., obtained information from television or radio, awareness of

other water conservation programs from MDWASD, and, knowledge of water conservation

programs from other organizations).

65.5% noticed changes in their habits, 76% of participants noticed savings in their water bill,

9.4% did not notice a change, and 14% were uncertain. However, after the survey was

administered, full responses were received from 64 out of the 121 households (52.8%). The

majority, between 81% and 89% of participants, were satisfied with the study.

Anonymous. (n.d.). 7 EASY WAYS TO CONSERVE ENERGY. Accountancy SA, 4.

Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1711533713/

Conserving energy is an excellent way to help our planet and save people money! There are

many simple ways to conserve water and energy at home in our daily lives that can have a great

impact on the environment/planet. Setting washing machines to either warm or cold water

settings and not hot can help reduce energy usage, as can turning down the water heater

thermostat. These are great ways to reduce the amount of energy used in your home as is takes a

lot of energy to heat water. Cleaning and replacing air filters as recommended can be helpful too.

Dirty filters make it harder for air conditioners and heating systems to draw air through properly,

thus, using more energy than is really necessary. Turn off lights, TVs and computers when they

are not being used, electricity uses energy! Insulating walls and ceilings better can save 20% to

30% on a residential heating bill, it can also reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In addition to

insulating walls and ceilings, installing a programmable thermostat can reduce heating and

cooling bills by another 10%. Another easy way to save energy is through turning down the

temperature on home refrigerators, this can be extremely cost effective as well since refrigerators

account for about 20% of household electricity use.

 Gulkis, A., & Gulkis, A. (n.d.). The Energy Pyramid: The best path to lasting energy savings.

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 64(5), 143A–144A.

https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.64.5.143A

With energy prices rising constantly, even farms have had to change the way they utilize and

conserve their energy. The Energy Pyramid is a guide for farmers to use to get the most of their

money and save energy and natural resources while doing it. This pyramid was created to allow

others a better understanding of using these resources more efficiently in the agricultural

spectrum of the world. The first step of this pyramid is Energy Analysis. Energy Analysis is like

an audit, reviewing the most recent amount of energy usage. This can also generate suggestions

on how to get more out of your energy, like more efficient use of equipment. The second step is

Energy Conservation, which, in simplest terms, is not using unnecessary amounts of energy

when it's not needed. The third level of the pyramid is Energy Efficiency. Energy Efficiency can

be as simple as using equipment more responsibly or purchasing/installing equipment that is

better suited for conserving of energy. The fourth block of the pyramid is Time of Use

Management. This step suggests cutting down the amount of time farmers use their equipment

for during operational time, mainly only using high energy using equipment only when needed.

At the very top of the pyramid is Renewable Energy. Conversion to renewable resources ,while

costly and should be considered carefully, can have a huge positive impact on farms. Renewable

energy comes from naturally replenishing sources, such as solar and wind power,

hydroelectricity, and biofuels.

 Rozgus, A. (n.d.). Water conservation made simple.(Editor’s Viewpoint). Consulting

Specifying Engineer, 49(2).

This article points out that the United States doesn't have a specific government body dedicated

to water conservation. While there are several agencies and programs and things, such as

Environmental Protection Agency, their WaterSense program, the U.S. Dept. of Energy, these

still are not fully dedicated to the conservation water. Water, as pointed out in this article, is a

necessity for almost all living organisms, so it's important the inhabitants of Earth use if

efficiently and responsibly. This article includes several great ways to conserve water in one's

daily life that people may not always think of. Installing low flow toilets and faucets is extremely

helpful, as a lot of toilets use an unnecessary amount of water per flush, and faucets use too

much pressure to bring water through to to a bathroom sink. Turning off water when one is

actively using/in need of water, like washing your hair or brushing your teeth. Purchasing

appliances made specifically for conserving water, i.e. EnergyStar washing machines and toilets.

Shortening showers, even by just a few minutes can make a huge impact on the amount of water

used in a household per year, there are even shower heads available that can assist in the

conservation of water during each shower. Using the same water bottle everyday instead of using

store bought plastic water bottles can help with waste and conserving water by eliminating

multiple dishes to wash. Avoid using plastic water bottles if possible. Using commercial car

washes, as odd as it sounds, can be helpful as well. Some car washes reuse water and dispose

wastewater responsibly. A super simple way to use water efficiently is ice cubes. Everyone drops
an ice cube once in a while, and when they do, what do they do with it? Most people just think to

toss it down the drain but more efficient use for it would be to toss it into the flower pot of a

houseplant. Insulating hot water pipes can conserve both water and energy. By insulating water

pipes, you won't have to run water as long waiting for the water to heat up, because as a result,

the pipes and the water will be able to hold heat more efficiently and it won't take as much

energy to heat the water either.

IowaPublicTelevision, director. ​Barack Obama on Energy Policy and Conservation​.

YouTube​, 6 June 2008, ​www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUH4so7HBZ0​.

In the interview, Iowa Public Television asks President Barack Obama to provide his take

on what others may not want to hear. His response was simply energy conservation. President

Obama stated that as consumers we have to do a better job at conserving energy. This means that

we must “change our habits,” such as driving big SUVs and leaving the lights on in our homes.

He addressed climate change and how it is harmful for farmers and offered a solution by

“capping greenhouse gases.” By capping greenhouse gases, he meant energy companies will

have to “change how they generate power,” thus changing prices. Because of them having to

change the way they work, they will have to change prices based on consumption. Obama stated

that they’ll have to safeguard lower and fixed income homes, while higher income homes will

have to pay more per unit. He made clear that it would not be painless, but small things like

turning lights off in our homes will make a difference that won’t affect our long term living

standards. He claimed that his generation and before have not been doing what is necessary to

conserve energy, and they must have responsibility for the generations ahead.
 Jarnagin, R. (n.d.). 1992 Energy Policy Act and 90.1-1999. ASHRAE Journal, 52(3), 41–42.

Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/518462203/

During the fall season of 1922, the Energy Policy Act of 1922 was created to make major

provisions for energy usage. This act contained a requirement that all states must now have

energy codes for commercial residential buildings (housing). It also requires states to update

these codes to the Standard 90.1, a completely revised version of the 1889 version of the

standard. Before such an act was passed, states were allowed to freely choose their own energy

codes. Even though the act was mandatory, there was no real enforcement in place to make sure

states would abide by this act. Though there was no enforcement, states may receive funds to

update these codes instead of using their own money to meet standards and requirements stated

in the act. In order to receive these funds, states had to either meet requirements or exceed

efficiency levels regulated in the Energy Policy Act of 1922. This source will give some

background information on energy regulations and standards that were first set. Knowledge on

the Energy Policy Act of 1922 is helpful, as it was a major mark on the history of Standard 90.1.

To understand some of the materials covered in other sources, some knowledge about this act

will be helpful for readers.